The state of Indiana is being sued over its work requirement under the Healthy Indiana Plan.
In a federal lawsuit filed this week in the District Court for Washington D.C., individuals represented by Indiana Legal Services (ILS) and the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) are challenging Medicaid waivers that the federal government has approved for the Healthy Indiana Plan.
In 2018, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approved Indiana’s request to impose work requirements as a condition of coverage for adults.
The plaintiffs say the work requirement would force thousands of people from coverage through the Healthy Indiana Plan, accompanies other waiver cuts in the State, including lock-outs for failure to pay premiums, no retroactive coverage, and no non-emergency medical transportation to and from health care appointments.
“These requirements put an extra burden on Medicaid eligibility that jeopardizes the health coverage of our clients and thousands of other vulnerable individuals,” said Adam Mueller, Director of Advocacy at Indiana Legal Services.
This is the fourth federal lawsuit challenging a Medicaid waiver project with a work a requirement component approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In the other three lawsuits, the plaintiffs have been successful in challenging the waivers.
You can read the complaint here. A summary of the case can be found here.
